Student Stories: Bethan (Part 2)
In this part, Bethan talks about a highlight of her university journey, a study trip to Atlanta
Atlanta was one of the most rewarding, powerful, heartfelt experiences I have ever had the opportunity to do.
Day one we went to see the Georgia Aquarium, which wasn’t on the tour guide, but it put Georgia in more perspective for me, as it was surrounded by other tourist attractions, which allowed me to see how loving and welcoming residents of Georgia were.
Day two consisted of a walk around Georgia State University and a visit to the Child Development Centre. This experience honestly warmed my heart, the children are so loving and outgoing. The establishment itself was colourful, bright and open for the imagination of children to create whatever they wanted their surroundings to be. One of my favourite parts of this trip was meeting Doctor Brian Williams; this man’s knowledge consumed me, it is so impressive what he does. When I graduate I hope to have as much motivation and passion as him to make a change, this would be my dream. His personal stories about his daughter going to a school, where he wants her to communicate with different students of different races and genders are inspirational, as he mentioned a man of his colour could not do that 30–40 years ago and he wants his children to embrace a multicultural community.
Day three we met Brian Williams again for a Sweet Auburn Tour, where I saw symbolic and iconic buildings, and images of a heart-warming community everywhere. There are paintings surrounded by original buildings to embrace the essential heritage of the area. We had the opportunity to visit the Martin Luther King Museum and his personal house, this was very rewarding.
Overall, these are three days out of seven we spent there, and I am full of knowledge and information that is so dearly important for people to know. This trip was a trip of a lifetime, I can now use what I have learned for my modules in my second year at university, I can pass it on to other students whom might want to go. but mostly I can share my story and my knowledge with students and professionals to say that Atlanta, Georgia is a beautiful place of history, power, and change. It has changed my thought process, how I back my points up in seminars, how I talk to all students.
